Hilltoppers Welcome Chippewas for Weekend Series

Friday, February 28

Bowling Green, Ky.

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

Central Michigan

Tickets

Photo by: Savannah Philpot/WKU Athletics

2/27/2025 2:54:00 PM | Baseball

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball continues nonconference play as the Hilltoppers host a four-game series against Central Michigan this weekend starting with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. CT.

SERIES INFO
• Central Michigan (2-6) at WKU (7-1)
• Nick Denes Field | Bowling Green, Ky.
    • Friday, Feb. 28 | 1 p.m. CT (DH)
    • Saturday, March 1 | 1 p.m. CT
    • Sunday, March 2 | 1 p.m. CT
• Listen: The Varsity Network (PxP: Jeff Younglove (Game 1 & 2), Scott Thompson (Game 3), Mike Cleff (Game 4) | Analyst: Travis Hudson (Game 2), Mike Reynolds (Game 3), Jim Pickens (Game 4)
• Social: @WKU_Baseball | @WKUSports
• Live Stats: Sidearm | StatBroadcast
• Game Notes: WKU | Central Michigan | CUSA
AT THE GAME
• Click HERE to purchase tickets.
• Click HERE for the full WKU Baseball Digital Guide.
• Friday is Bingo and Beer Friday. Come and play baseball bingo for the chance to win a prize from Alumni Hall and enjoy select beer for only $3.
• Saturday is Country and Western Night. Bring out those cowboy hats and boots because The Nick has gone country! Come and enjoy some of the greatest country music of all time.
• Sunday is Kids Day Sunday. Kids can enjoy postgame base running and autographs with the team. Kids can also enjoy the $5 Kid's Meal Deal which includes a hot dog, popcorn and a drink.
• Click HERE to access the full 2025 WKU Baseball promotional schedule.

ABOUT THE TOPS
• The Hilltoppers enter the series with a 6-1 record after claiming their first midweek win over EKU on Tuesday. WKU's only loss this season was against Murray State in extra innings last Monday.
• WKU dominated in-state rival EKU 11-3 on Tuesday at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers tallied 16 hits and 11 runs – the most WKU has scored in game this season – in the win. WKU launched four home runs as Ryan Wideman, Ethan Lizama, Kyle Hayes and Thomas Marsala all left the yard in the contest. This marked the first four-homer game for the Tops at home since March 11, 2023, vs. South Dakota State.
• Wideman collected the first four-hit game for the Hilltoppers this season in a 4-for-5 outing with three RBI, three runs scored, two stolen bases and a home run.
• WKU swept Lafayette in a three-game series, 5-2, 9-3 and 8-1 last weekend at Nick Denes Field.
• The WKU offense got rolling in games two and three as they totaled 29 hits and 17 runs.
• Carlos Vasquez and Ethan Lizama paced the Tops at the plate as they had five hits apiece in Sunday's doubleheader. Vasquez recorded a double and four runs scored while Lizama had six RBI with two home runs, a double and three runs scored.
• Drew Whalen made his second start on the bump in game one of the doubleheader. The right-hander set a new career-high with 5.0 innings pitched while matching career-high of eight strikeouts. He allowed just one run on two hits and one walk. Whalen is the first WKU starting pitcher to earn a winning decision this season.
• Jack Bennett got the starting nod in game two – his first appearances of the season. The right-hander was excellent on his way to picking up his first win of the 2025 season. He tossed 5.0 shutout innings and registered five strikeouts while only giving up four hits without a walk.

QUOTABLE
• "Another big challenge this weekend with a four-game series after playing five games in four days. Central Michigan brings an already well traveled team this spring and they will be a great challenge for us with their total team offense. We just need to be where our feet are and play our game." - WKU Baseball Head Coach Marc Rardin, on this weekend's four-game series against Central Michigan.

SERIES INFORMATION
• This weekend will be the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th meetings between WKU and Central Michigan.
• The Hilltoppers trail the series 9-4 after dropping three-of-four to the Chippewas in the 2022 season.
• This weekend's matchup will mark only the second time the two teams have faced off since the 2013 season.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan dropped three-of-four games at San Francisco last weekend.
• As a team, the Chippewas hold a .242 batting average while scoring 4.4 runs per game.
• On the mound, CMU has a 7.35 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 60.0 innings.

How to follow WKU Baseball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Baseball on Twitter and @WKUBaseball on Instagram.